The expanded G6 Alliance service through the Port of Halifax continues to bring additional large cargo vessels through the port. On September 8, the Port welcomed OOCL Southampton, an 8,063-TEU, 323-metre vessel to the Fairview Cove Container Terminal, operated by Ceres-Halifax. “OOCL has a long history of commitment to the Port and built strong partnerships with the stakeholders in the community,” said Grace Liang, President, OOCL Canada. “We are proud that OOCL Southampton will begin serving the community through our AZX service, providing a vital link to world trade.”
This larger vessel call is part of a service expansion for the G6 Alliance. An outbound call out of Halifax has been added to the existing AZX service. “The terminal operator and other key port partners have been working hard to make this a reality,” said Karen Oldfield, President and CEO, Halifax Port Authority. “The arrival of larger vessels at the Port of Halifax is very positive. In addition to the terminal operator and the carrier, this is good news for logistics providers, port users and for the larger community due to the increased potential for economic growth.”
“We are pleased to welcome OOCL Southampton and other G6 Alliance vessels to the Port of Halifax” said Captain Sean Griffiths, CEO of the Atlantic Pilotage Authority. “Our pilots play a vital role in the safe and efficient navigation of ships through these waters and they stand ready to assist and support these vessels.”
“CN welcomes the new G6 Alliance service which will make the Port of Halifax more attractive to inland exporters from Quebec, Ontario and the US Midwest,” said JJ Ruest, Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer of CN. “As a last port of call before crossing the Atlantic, this service provides shorter, more reliable transit times to final Asian and Mediterranean destinations.”
The G6 Alliance carriers are APL, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, MOL, NYK and OOCL. Since 2004, over $250 million has been invested in port infrastructure to ensure Halifax is ready to handle larger vessels. With over 16 metres draft at each containerized cargo terminal as well as extended piers and post-Panamax cranes, Halifax can triple capacity with no significant changes to existing infrastructure.